Unilateral choanal atresia in a foal.

This research talks about a case of a 4-month-old foal suffering from unilateral choanal atresia, a crucial health condition impacting the foal’s intake of air through one nostril. Several treatments were tried, but it was found that a year later, the foal was still experiencing difficulties in airflow from the affected nostril.

Background Information

• The research focuses on an anomaly in a 4-month-old Thoroughbred foal that presented recurrent issues with breathing and exercise discomfort, specifically pertaining to the airflow from the right nostril.
• Choanal atresia is a congenital condition in which the back of the nasal passage (choana) is blocked, usually by abnormal bony or soft tissue.
• Typically, this condition in horses is bilateral, meaning it affects both nostrils, and can be life-threatening, warranting immediate identification at birth.

Diagnosis

• Following endoscopic examination, the foal was diagnosed with unilateral choanal atresia, an uncommon presentation of this condition, as only the right nasal passage was affected.
• The endoscopy revealed full membranous blockage of the right nasal pathway at the level of the nasopharynx and significant narrowing of the back end of the right ventral meatus.
• The diagnosis of unilateral choanal atresia suggests a less severe form of nasal obstruction, as only one nostril is involved.

Treatment

• The horse underwent a procedure involving laser ablation of the blockage through the use of a video-endoscope. The primary aim was to eliminate the obstruction by using high-intensity light energy.
• A follow-up examination 7 weeks later indicated that scar tissue had resulted in a renewed blockage of the right nasal passage.
• Subsequently, an intranasal resection was carried out using laparoscopic instruments, followed by the placement of a nasal stent for the following 2 weeks post-operation.

Follow-up and Insights

• However, at the age of 1, the foal still experienced hindrances in airflow from the right nostril and had significant respiratory noise during physical activity.
• The study indicates that unilateral choanal atresia, although not life-threatening as its bilateral counterpart, can still pose significant challenges in early detection, treatment, and recovery outcomes for the affected horses.
• This case study draws attention to considering unilateral choanal atresia in horses presenting issues with single-nostril airflow.